WEBVTT STACEY: PRESIDENT TRUMP IS CLOSE TO SIGNING A NEW FARM BILL. SOYBEAN FARMERS IN IOWA ARE UP WANTING THE MOVE HAD KCCI’S CHIEF POLITICAL REPORTER CYNTHIA FODOR IS LIVE AT THE STUDIO RIGHT NOW WITH MORE. CYNTHIA: SOYBEAN FARMERS IN IOWA ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE BILL, WHICH SAVES CONSERVATION PROGRAMS AND WILL HELP TO LOOK FOR NEW MARKETS FOR IOWA CROPS. >> MY FIRST REACTION WAS, WOW, I DIDN’T KNOW WASHINGTON COULD MOVE THAT FAST. CYNTHIA: ROLLAND SCHNELL IS USUALLY OUT ON HIS LAND IN NEWTON TENDING HIS 3,000 ACRES OF SOYBEAN AND CORN CROPS. HE SAYS THE NEW FARM BILL IS NOT PERFECT, BUT AFTER A TOUGH YEAR WITH TARIFFS, HE SEES A GLIMMER OF HOPE. >> WE’RE WORKING HARD TO DEVELOP NEW MARKETS. MAYBE WE WERE PUTTING TOO MANY ADS IN ONE BASKET, WITH CHINA THE PAST TWO YEARS, AND WE NEED TO DEVELOP A WIDER SCOPE OF SOYBEAN USERS. CYNTHIA: THE NEW BILL INCLUDES FUNDING TO DEVELOP FUTURE MARKETS. >> HAVING MONEY TOWARD OPENING NEW MARKETS, HELPING TO PUSH THOSE THINGS ALONG, SHOWING DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD THE VALUE OF IOWA’S AND THE U.S.’ PRODUCTS SUCH AS CORN, BEEF, SOY, ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT AND I THINK IT IS A GOOD CAP. CYNTHIA: -- A GOOD STEP. CYNTHIA: THE BILL MAINTAINS A SAFETY NET FOR FARMERS, INVESTS IN CONSERVATION PRACTICES AND PEST PREVENTION, BROADBAND INTERNET, AND FARM STRESS HEALTH SERVICES. >> I THINK FARM BILL WIL BRING BAD BREATH OF FRESH AIR INTO OUR FARM ECONOMY RIGHT NOW AND PROVIDE STABILITY AND -- WILL BRING THE BREATH OF FRESH AIR INTO OUR FARM ECONOMY RIGHT NOW AND PROVIDE STABILITY AND PREDICTABILITY THAT FARMERS NEED AT THIS TIMES. CYNTHIA: THE MEASURE ALSO SUPPORTS STRUGGLING DAIRY FARMERS AND LEGALIZES THE CULTIVATION OF INDUSTRIAL HEMP. >> IT IS A SLOW TRICKLE, BUT WE ARE LOOKING FOR THAT OPTIMISM AND I THINK FARMERS ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO 2019 AND GREENER PASTURES. CYNTHIA: SENATOR JONI ERNST VOTED FOR THE FARM BILL, BUT SENATOR CHUCK GRASSLEY VOTED AGAINST IT. HE SAYS IT SUBSIDIZES BIG, WEALTHY FARMERS

Iowa soybean farmers on Thursday applauded the farm bill, which dictates most of the country's agricultural and food programs for the next five years, saying the legislation saves conservation programs and will help them look for new markets for Iowa crops.The $867 billion measure heads to President Donald Trump, who is expected to sign it into law despite the elimination of a House GOP proposal to expand the group of food stamp recipients subject to work requirements."I didn't know Washington could move that fast," said Rolland Schnell, a Newton farmer who tends his 3,000 acres of soybean and corn crops in Jasper County. He said the new farm bill isn't perfect, but after a tough year with tariffs, he sees a glimmer of hope."We're working hard developing new markets," Schnell said. "Maybe we were putting too many eggs in one basket with China in the past few years, so we need to develop a wider scope of soybean users.""Having money going toward developing new markets and how we push those things along, showing different parts of the world the value of Iowa's and the U.S.'s products, commodities, corn, pork, beef, soy, all those things are important, and I think that's a good step," farmer David Struthers said.The bill maintains a safety net for farmers and invests in conservation practices, pest prevention, broadband internet and farm stress health services."I think the farm bill will breathe fresh air into the farm economy, providing stability and predictability farmers need at these times," said Michael Dolch, Iowa Soybean Association policy director.The measure also supports struggling dairy farmers and legalizes the cultivation of industrial hemp."It's not drinking through a full-blown fire hose at this point. It's a slow trickle," Dolch said. "We're looking for that optimism, and I think farmers will agree they're looking forward to putting 2018 in the rearview mirror and look on to greener pastures and better conditions in 2019."Sen. Joni Ernst voted for the farm bill, while Sen. Chuck Grassley voted against it. He said it subsidizes big, wealthy farmers and allows family members who don't even farm to collect subsidies.

DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI) —

Iowa soybean farmers on Thursday applauded the farm bill, which dictates most of the country's agricultural and food programs for the next five years, saying the legislation saves conservation programs and will help them look for new markets for Iowa crops.

The $867 billion measure heads to President Donald Trump, who is expected to sign it into law despite the elimination of a House GOP proposal to expand the group of food stamp recipients subject to work requirements.

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"I didn't know Washington could move that fast," said Rolland Schnell, a Newton farmer who tends his 3,000 acres of soybean and corn crops in Jasper County. He said the new farm bill isn't perfect, but after a tough year with tariffs, he sees a glimmer of hope.

"We're working hard developing new markets," Schnell said. "Maybe we were putting too many eggs in one basket with China in the past few years, so we need to develop a wider scope of soybean users."

"Having money going toward developing new markets and how we push those things along, showing different parts of the world the value of Iowa's and the U.S.'s products, commodities, corn, pork, beef, soy, all those things are important, and I think that's a good step," farmer David Struthers said.

"I think the farm bill will breathe fresh air into the farm economy, providing stability and predictability farmers need at these times," said Michael Dolch, Iowa Soybean Association policy director.

The measure also supports struggling dairy farmers and legalizes the cultivation of industrial hemp.

"It's not drinking through a full-blown fire hose at this point. It's a slow trickle," Dolch said. "We're looking for that optimism, and I think farmers will agree they're looking forward to putting 2018 in the rearview mirror and look on to greener pastures and better conditions in 2019."

Sen. Joni Ernst voted for the farm bill, while Sen. Chuck Grassley voted against it. He said it subsidizes big, wealthy farmers and allows family members who don't even farm to collect subsidies.